Hat ironing machine



Oct. 10, 1933. w J. BYRNE 1,929,805

HAT IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor,

Will/am dooeph B/Hw,

0d. 10, 1933. w BYRNE 1,929,805

HAT IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor,

Will/am clodeph, B vrne,

Attorneys.

Patented ct. 10, 1933 sira stars eAr'NT- ore i lenses a 1,929,805 H T IRONING MACHINE William J oseph Byrne, Indianapolis, Ind. Application August 24, 1931. Serial No. 558,978

" '11 Claims. (o1. 2"2s 2s)' This invention relates to the art of hat pressing or ironing devices employing a hand operated, electrically heated ,ironand has for, one of its objects. the providing of a simple,

5 effective, inexpensive means for detachably fixing a hat block on a driving member without damage to the block.

An object of the invention is toprovide an improved head from which a hand iron may be supported and withdrawn for free use over and around a hat block without having to detach the iron from the head.

Anobject of the invention to provide safety ,means to prevent damage to a hat should the operator forget to cut off the iiow of current to the iron and leave the device in operation.

A further object of the inventionis to provide means for retaining the iron on a hat to utilize the heat remaining in the iron after the current iiow is interrupted.

A still further object of the invention is the particular combining of the various elements as set out in the accompanying claims to form. an improved mechanism with better operation than found in the devices heretofore employed:

These and other objects will become apparent in the following description of the] invention as shown in one particular form by the accompanying drawings, in which I Fig. 1 is a front view in perspective of. a device embodying my' invention;

Fig. 2, an opposite side elevation of the iron supporting and control head; I

Fig. 3, a detail in top plan view of the iron attaching rod; 7

Fig. 4, a side elevation of a hat brim block on the driving spindle;

Fig. 5, a horizontal section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.; l v

Fig. 6, an underside view in perspective of a hat crown block; 1 v v Fig. '7, a side view in perspective of .the block driving spindle; and g Fig. 8, a topplanview oi the entire device with the switch box removed.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several viewsinf the drawings.

I provide a;motor 10 having a suitable reduction gearing between the armature shaft and a vertically disposed spindle 11, the gearing being enclosed in the housing 12 mounted 1 directly upon one end of the motor. The details of construction of the motor unit with the reduction gearing form no part of my, invention, and the unit may be obtained commercially.

The essential feature of the unit is that there be a slowly revolvable motor driven, vertical spindle. The motor may be mounted upon any base, here shown as the platform 13 supported by the, three legs 14, 15,16. A motor control switch 17 is fixed at one side of the motor.

I form a sleeve 18 to have an upper with a cup 19 and bore out the sleeve to permit it to he slipped over the spindle ll concentrically and there. fixed by the pin 23 to have a length of the spindle to extend above the cup 19. The internal bore of the cup 19 is larger than that of the sleeve and somewhat eccentric of the spindle 11, Figs. 5 and 7.

.With my device, standard hat blocks 21 and i 22 may be employed. The crowning block 22,

Fig. 6, comes with a central depending post 23 having a bore 24. therein. The diameter of the spindle ll is made to permit the block to be placed thereover to have the bore 24 receive the spindle '11 therein with a sliding fit. A plate 25 is formed with acentral hole therethrough of the same diameter as that of the bore 24 and is secured to the underside of the post 23 to have the hole register with the bore of the post. The diameter of the periphery of the plate 25 is made to be slightly less than is the internal diameter of the cup 19 and the periphery is eccentric ofthe center, hole through the plate. V

A hat'26, Fig. 8, is forced down over the block 22 in the usual way after being cleaned and while still wet or damp. The block 22 with the hat thereon is then taken to the ironer and the post 23 placed down over the spindle 11 and shifted rotatably to bring the plate 25 down into the cup 19. With the pla e 25 within the cup, the block is given a quick twist to the right to cause the plate 25 to turn within the cup 19 about the spindle l1 and by reason of the eccentricity of both the internal wall oi the cup 19 and the external edge of the plate 25', the edge of the plate will wedge tightly against the wall of the cup to such an extent that the block 22;.can not be lifted vertically off the spindle. Hence the hat 25 may be pulled off theblock or shiftedthereon without the danger of the block 22 being momentarily lifted 'from'the spindle and then dropping out from the hat to fall on' the operators feet. Not only does this gripping of the plate with the cup prevent accidental liiting or" theblock from the spindle, but it forms a driving connection whereby rotation ofthe spindle 11 by the motor 19 will correspondingly revolve the block 22 and the hat thereon. The

initial twist of the block 22 to fix the plate in the cup 19 may of course be ineither direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the spindle, the twist being made so that the plate tends to be held engaged rather than loosened upon resistance being applied to the block 22 upon its rotation. A quick twist of the block in the opposite direction will loosen and turn the plate 25 within the cup 19 to permit the block being lifted off the spindle 11 when desired.

Referring to Fig. l, when the block 21 is used for holding the hat to iron the brim, a plate 28 is made and secured to the underside of the block. This plate provided with a central body which is bored through to permit it being slipped over the spindle 11. The under side of the body has a boss 29 turned eccentric-ally to be of the same conformation as that of the plate 25whereby this boss may be entered within the cup 19, engaged and released, as above described in reference to the plate 25.

The means for holding and revolving the hat in the two positions for ironing havingbeen described, the means for supporting and controlling the iron will now be described. 7

A post 30 is fixed at the back and to one side of the motor 10 and has a collar 38 fixed thereon to hold a head 31 at a elevation but to permit the head to be freely revolved horizontally therearound. This head .31 is here shown as being hollow and has an arm 32 pivotally secured by one end at the rear of the head to permit the arm to project forwardly and be rocked up and down therewithin. The underside of the head is open and the arm 32 carries a weight 33 on its free end. A cord or cable 34 is fixed by one end to the arm 32 and is carried upwithin the over a revolvable spool 35 out through an opening in the head to have the other end fixed to a tube 36. This tube 36 is roclzably attached to the head 31 near the 1 rear end thereof here shown as being pivoted by an car 37 on the same bolt 37' which passes through the head carries the arm 32. By

arrangement, the weighted arm 32 tends to drop down and pull the forward end of the tube 36 upwardly.

A rod 38 is telescoped within the tube 36 and has a fitting 39 hingedto its forward end to engage with and be fixed to the heel'of an ordinary electrically heated sad iron 40 whereby the iron is rockably attached to the rod 38 but rotation of the iron will cause a corresponding rotation of the rod. The forward end of the tube 36 is flared outwardly to have spaced apart upper and lower lips or flanges 41 and 42, between which the fitting 39 may be pushed and held to hold the iron in a position fixed relative to the tube 36. The weight 33 is proportioned so that it will not quite balance iron and the supporting rodand tube. A bar a5 is fixed to the head 31 in spaced relation thereto 'on the outer side of the tube 36 as a guide for the tube, and

a latch A l is provided onthe head to swing aoross the path of the tube 36' so that the iron 'flO may bepushed toward the tube 36 to be held by the end thereof and then raised to have the .latch drop under the tube and hold it in an'upper position.

, -A switch box 45' is fixed on the-upper end ofthe post 30 and a cord 46 is carried from the box "through a flexible arm 47 and to the usual plug :48 which is inserted at the rear of the iron 40.

The length of the cord 46 is relatively short for a purpose hereinafter described. A switch con trol toggle arm 49 extends from the box' l5' and may be rocked downwardly to be in the on position and upwardly to the off position. A lever 50 pivoted to the rear side of the box 45 and extends around to in front of the box to be in the path of the arm 49. A second lever 51 is pivoted to the post 30 below the box 45 and a link pivotally interconnects the two levers whereby through the action of gravity, the lever 50 is normally in contact with the arm id.

The upper end of the bar 45 is carried rearwardly and curved around concentrically with and spaced from the post 30 to be just under the rear end of the lower lever 51. A notch 52 is cut in the upper side of'this bar extension to permit the lever,51 to enter therein.

'In operating the invention after the block with its .hat thereon has been fixed over the spindle 11, the motor 10 is set in operation to cause the block to revolve. Also, the switch arm 49 is pushed lower to cause current to flow and'heat the iron l0. Pushing the arm so down rocks the lever 50 to lift the lever 51 from contactwith the rear extension of the bar d5. The 11 01140 is grasped by the handle by the operator, lifted to permit the latch a l to be swung too out of the way, and then lowered and pulled forwardly and held against the revolv ng hat on the block with the desired pressu The iron may be moved forwardly or rearwzn'dly, and down over the side'of the crownas in Fig. 8. As the iron moves forwardly or rearwardly, the rod 38 slides accordingly within the tube 35 and as the iron is shifted across the hat toward and away from the center of rotation, the head 31 is swung correspondingly about the post 30 as the rod 38 within the tube 36 may guide it. Now should the operator be called away from the device before the hat has been dried andill5 ironed out,-he may allow the motor 10 to continue to run, but will push the arm 49 up to off the flow of current to the iron. Pushing up this arm allows the lever 50 to rock to let the iower'lever 51 drop and reston the rear err-11: tension of the bar 45. The iron 40 is moved over the hat to revolve'the head to allow the lever '51 to drop into the notch 52 which action prevents further rotation of the head. Thus the iron-remains in contact with the revolving hat and the residual heat left in the ironafter stopping the current'flow is utilized to further dry the hat while the operator is away without danger of scorching or burning the hat.

Should the operator leave the machine with iii? the iron resting on the revolving hat and forget to raise the switch arm 49, the revolving block with the hat thereon will soon cause the iron to be shifted to the side whereupon the iron will fall down to the limit of travel of the tube 36 between the bar 45 and the head 31, below the hat, and this distance is such that it exceeds the length of the cord 46 between the box 45 and the iron 40 so that, as the iron drops below the hat, the plug 48 is jerked outrof the i if. iron and the current flow thus stopped.

When the crown of the hat has been dried andsufficiently pressed, it is pulled up off of block 22, with the block being held down by the iii invention, and I therefore do not desire to be" limited to that precise form any more than may be required by the following claims.

'I claim:

1. The combination of a revolvable spindle, a member adapted to-be revolvably placed over the spindle, a cup on the spindle presented toward the member and having an eccentric bore, and an eccentric plate on the undersideof the member adapted to be received Within said cup and revolved therein to Wedgeagainst its wall to prevent withdrawal of the member from the spindle and to form a driving engagement therewith. r

2. In an attachment for a hat ironing machine, a spindle, a hat block comprising a sleeve to be slipped over and secured to the spindle, the sleeve having an upper cupped end with a bore eccentric of thespindle, and. a plate to be fixed to the under side of the hat block, the

plate having a central hole to receive the spindle therethrough and an outer eccentric edge adapted to be received within the said cupped end.

3. In a hat machine, a revolvable spindle, a hat block, and means for detachably engaging the block with the spindle upon less than one complete rotation of the block to'prevent withdrawal of the block therefrom, a horizontally revolvable head extended laterally of its axis of revolution, an iron, an iron support pivoted to the extension of the head to permit the iron to be raised and lowered vertically close beside the head, and a latch member'carried by the head near its axis of revolution for holding the iron in an upper position removed from said block, said support comprising an arm adjustable in length hinged to the head at one end and.

to the iron at the other end and means on the arm to support the iron in a fixed position.

4. In a hat machine, a revolvable spindle, .a hat block, and means for detachably'engaging the block with the spindle upon less than one complete rotation of the block to prevent withdrawal of the block therefrom, a horizontally revolvable head extended laterally of its axis hat block, and meansfor detachably engaging the block with the spindle upon slight rotation of the block to prevent. withdrawal of the block therefrom, a horizontally revolvable head, an iron, an iron support pivoted to the head to per-' mit the iron to be raised and lowered vertically,

and a latch member for holding the iron in an upper position removed from said block, said support comprising a' tubular member pivoted to the head and a rod telescoping with the tube, the iron being hinged to the rod, and means ,on the outer end oi' said tubeto receive and support said iron in a fixed position.

6. Ina hat machine, a revolvable spindle, a hat block, and means for detachably engaging the block with the spindle upon slight rotation of the block to prevent withdrawal of the block therefrom, a horizontally revolvable head, an iron, an iron suport pivoted to the head to permit the iron to be raised and lowered vertically,

and a latch member for holding the iron in an upper position removed from said block, a switch arm for'controlling flow of current to said iron. and lever means controlled by movement of said switch arm adapted to intercept rotary movement of said head.

7. In a hat ironing machine, a head, a supporting post about which the head may revolve, a member pivoted to the head, an-iron supporting means telescopically connected to the mem her to permit rotation of. the iron about the member, and means on the member for receiving the iron and holding it against rotation.

8. In a hat ironing machine, a head, a supporting post about which the head may revolve, a member pivoted tothe head, an iron telescopically connected to the outer end of the member to permit rotation of the iron about the member, and m ans on the member for receiving the ironand holding. it against rotation, a switch control arm above said head, a member on the headhaving a notch therein, and lever means between said arm and said notched member adapted to intercept said notch and prevent rotation of the head upon the arm being shifted to an off position.

9. In a hatironing machine, a block on which the hat to be ironed is placed, automatic means for "revolving the block, a rotatably movable head, an iron carried by the head and moved manually over the hat on the block, switch means for controlling flow of current to the iron and means for arresting the movement of the head and for retaining the iron in contact with the hat on the block after the operator has turned the switch to stop the flow of current to the iron and has released manual control of the iron comprising a switch arm, a locking lever, means by moving the switch arm to close the circuit, for lowering the locking lever and a member having a notch which is entered by the lever upon the appropriate swinging of the head.

10. In a hat machine, a hat block, a circular plate moving with the block and having a bore eccentric to the periphery of the plate, a revoluble spindle seated in the bore, and a cup fixed to the spindle, said cup having abore eccentric to the spindle and receiving the plate in said last mentioned bore.

11. In a hat ironing machine, a block on which a hat to be ironed is placed, motor means for revolving the block, an electrically heated iron, 2. switch plug in the circuit of the iron, 

